Latest news with #Blazers
San Francisco Chronicle
14 hours ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trail Blazers see 7-1 Chinese center Yang Hansen as a unique and versatile talent
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Yang Hansen is going to fit into American culture just fine. The Trail Blazers' 7-foot-1 Chinese center was introduced to Portland on Friday, and was asked about his interests. Turns out, he's already a gamer. 'Sometimes I sleep. All the time, sleep. I like to play PS5. And I like to eat,' Yang said, laughing. Yang was the 16th pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday. While some were surprised that he went as early as he did, the Blazers had been scouting him for two years. Yang averaged 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for the Qingdao Eagles. He has played for the team in China's top pro league for the past two seasons. 'You can just tell he's been taught the right way. So a lot of things as a coach that I have to teach with young guys, I don't have to teach this kid,' Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. 'He's been taught the right way, so I'm really excited about him, and it's going to be a lot of fun.' Portland had the 11th pick in the draft but traded the draft rights to guard Cedric Coward to the Memphis Grizzlies for Yang's draft rights, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Blazers general manager Joe Cronin saw value in the deal and didn't want to risk dropping any lower for fear Yang would not be available. "This is a very, very unique talent, in our opinion. He obviously has great size at 7-2, young, just turns 20 tomorrow. High, high-end skillset, his ability to pass, his basketball IQ, his functionality in the post. His ability to step out. We think he'll be a good free-throw shooter, we think he'll make perimeter jump shots as well,' Cronin said. 'Defensively, he's a really smart player that can be pretty versatile in the post with his size and IQ." Yang, who was seated in the stands at the draft and had to make his way down to the stage when his name was called, said the comparisons he's heard to Nikola Jokic and fellow countryman Yao Ming are flattering. 'I think the Baby Joker or being compared to Yao are a big honor,' Yang said through an interpreter. "I just try to learn from everyone, every good player, and try to improve myself every day.'
Winnipeg Free Press
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trail Blazers see 7-2 Chinese center Yang Hansen as a unique and versatile talent
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Yang Hansen is going to fit into American culture just fine. The Trail Blazers' 7-foot-1 Chinese center was introduced to Portland on Friday, and was asked about his interests. Turns out, he's already a gamer. 'Sometimes I sleep. All the time, sleep. I like to play PS5. And I like to eat,' Yang said, laughing. Yang was the 16th pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday. While some were surprised that he went as early as he did, the Blazers had been scouting him for two years. Yang averaged 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for the Qingdao Eagles. He has played for the team in China's top pro league for the past two seasons. 'You can just tell he's been taught the right way. So a lot of things as a coach that I have to teach with young guys, I don't have to teach this kid,' Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. 'He's been taught the right way, so I'm really excited about him, and it's going to be a lot of fun.' Portland had the 11th pick in the draft but traded the draft rights to guard Cedric Coward to the Memphis Grizzlies for Yang's draft rights, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Blazers general manager Joe Cronin saw value in the deal and didn't want to risk dropping any lower for fear Yang would not be available. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'This is a very, very unique talent, in our opinion. He obviously has great size at 7-2, young, just turns 20 tomorrow. High, high-end skillset, his ability to pass, his basketball IQ, his functionality in the post. His ability to step out. We think he'll be a good free-throw shooter, we think he'll make perimeter jump shots as well,' Cronin said. 'Defensively, he's a really smart player that can be pretty versatile in the post with his size and IQ.' Yang, who was seated in the stands at the draft and had to make his way down to the stage when his name was called, said the comparisons he's heard to Nikola Jokic and fellow countryman Yao Ming are flattering. 'I think the Baby Joker or being compared to Yao are a big honor,' Yang said through an interpreter. 'I just try to learn from everyone, every good player, and try to improve myself every day.' ___ AP NBA:
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Trail Blazers see 7-2 Chinese center Yang Hansen as a unique and versatile talent
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Yang Hansen is going to fit into American culture just fine. HT Image The Trail Blazers' 7-foot-1 Chinese center was introduced to Portland on Friday, and was asked about his interests. Turns out, he's already a gamer. 'Sometimes I sleep. All the time, sleep. I like to play PS5. And I like to eat,' Yang said, laughing. Yang was the 16th pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday. While some were surprised that he went as early as he did, the Blazers had been scouting him for two years. Yang averaged 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds last season for the Qingdao Eagles. He has played for the team in China's top pro league for the past two seasons. 'You can just tell he's been taught the right way. So a lot of things as a coach that I have to teach with young guys, I don't have to teach this kid,' Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. 'He's been taught the right way, so I'm really excited about him, and it's going to be a lot of fun.' Portland had the 11th pick in the draft but traded the draft rights to guard Cedric Coward to the Memphis Grizzlies for Yang's draft rights, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. Blazers general manager Joe Cronin saw value in the deal and didn't want to risk dropping any lower for fear Yang would not be available. "This is a very, very unique talent, in our opinion. He obviously has great size at 7-2, young, just turns 20 tomorrow. High, high-end skillset, his ability to pass, his basketball IQ, his functionality in the post. His ability to step out. We think he'll be a good free-throw shooter, we think he'll make perimeter jump shots as well,' Cronin said. 'Defensively, he's a really smart player that can be pretty versatile in the post with his size and IQ." Yang, who was seated in the stands at the draft and had to make his way down to the stage when his name was called, said the comparisons he's heard to Nikola Jokic and fellow countryman Yao Ming are flattering. 'I think the Baby Joker or being compared to Yao are a big honor,' Yang said through an interpreter. "I just try to learn from everyone, every good player, and try to improve myself every day.' ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blazers stun NBA world with 7-foot-1 Chinese star after trade
The post Blazers stun NBA world with 7-foot-1 Chinese star after trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. After barely missing the play-in tournament with a 36-46 record, the Portland Trail Blazers were rewarded with another lottery pick, nabbing the 11th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. They then decided to trade out of the lottery altogether, dealing away that selection to the Memphis Grizzlies for the 16th pick, a 2028 first-round pick, and two second-rounders. And then in a shocking turn of events, the Blazers, despite already having four centers on the roster, decided to select 7'1″ Chinese star Hansen Yang with the pick they got from the Grizzlies. Advertisement Yang tore up the Chinese Basketball Association in his two seasons in the league. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks while shooting 56.9 percent from the field, and at just 20 years of age, he certainly had his merits as a draft prospect. Alas, no talent evaluator had him going off the board in the first round, making the Blazers' selection of him at pick 16 that big of a shock. In fact, one front office executive for an unnamed team texted ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel that the Blazers' pick of Yang is the 'wildest' he's ever seen and that pick alone should put the jobs of the executives responsible for the selection 'on the line'. It's not quite clear what the Blazers aim to achieve with the selection of Yang, and this early as well. It would have been a confounding pick already had they made it in the second round, considering how many centers they already have on the roster. But for them to use a first-round pick in the middle of the first round to select someone they could have drafted 20 picks later has the entire NBA world up in arms. Fans clown the Blazers for their confounding Hansen Yang selection © Brad Penner-Imagn Images In three years, the Blazers may have the last laugh regarding their confusing Yang selection. But for now, they have become the butt of the joke among NBA fans who couldn't comprehend why they would make this pick. Advertisement 'Blazers got 3 Centers now what are they doing 😭 Ayton Clingan and Yang,' X user @EdeyMuse wrote. 'The Blazers won a couple extra games in the second half of the season… for a Yang Hansen. Let that sink in,' @JoeFisch3 added. 'Drafting Hansen Yang at 16th just solved NBA's low viewership problem,' @zyjohnw posted in jest. Yang is a Klutch Sports client, and perhaps that played a part in him being drafted way earlier than nearly everyone expected. 'Klutch sports got Hansen Yang drafted top 16,' @MVPnuby asserted. 'Klutch made Hansen Yang more than 10 million dollars by getting him picked 16th,' @mrcmon added. Related: Jake Fischer reveals 'Chinese Jokic' comp from Nuggets for surprise Blazers pick Related: Grizzlies land rising star Cedric Coward in No. 11 pick trade with Blazers
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
New video shows just how unexpected Yang Hansen NBA draft pick was
Many didn't have Qingdado center Yang Hansen being taken in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Even the 7-foot-1 center appeared taken aback when his name was called as the No. 16 pick by the Grizzlies — before being traded to the Trail Blazers — at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. Hansen, who was projected to go in the middle of the second round, was sitting in the stands and appeared to have a delayed reaction when his moment came, as seen in a video on social media. He quickly stood up and raised his arm before he shuffled with his white suit jacket, attempting to button it before greeting NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the stage. 5 Qingdado center Yang Hansen reacts to being taken in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 25, 2025. X/NickVanExit Hansen shared a moment with Klutch Sports founder Rich Paul — whose agency reps the prospect and other NBA stars such as LeBron James and Draymond Green — while on his way to the stage. The pair was all smiles as they shared a handshake and a hug. 5 Qingdado center Yang Hansen reacts to being taken in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 25, 2025. X/NickVanExit Memphis traded its 16th overall pick to Portland in exchange for the No. 11 overall pick (Cedric Coward), and the Blazers also received a 2028 first-round selection and two future second-round picks. Hansen led the Chinese Basketball Association in blocks and ranked in the top 10 in field goal percentage during the 2024-25 season. 5 Qingdado center Yang Hansen shares a moment with Klutch Sports founder and agent Rich Paul after being taken in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 25, 2025. X/ESPN He won the CBA rookie of the year in 2024, and was named All-CBA Domestic First Team and made the CBA All-Star team in both 2024 and 2025. Hansen earned CBA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024. NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote on X, 'A Nuggets source just texted me: 'Chinese Jokic,' about the Blazers' surprise selection,' referring to three-time NBA MVP and Denver center Nikola Jokic. 5 Yang Hansen looks on after being drafted sixteenth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2025 NBA Draft – Round One on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images 5 Yang Hansen poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 16th by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. AP The Blazers were intentional about their interest in Hansen. Portland became 'intrigued' by Hansen's game in 2023, specifically while he played for China during the FIBA U19 World Cup, according to ESPN, which reported the Blazers plan to begin Hansen's development 'immediately' by bringing him to the United States. Follow The Post's coverage of the 2025 NBA Draft The pick caught many pundits by surprise, with one NBA executive telling Clutch Points: 'That is the wildest pick I've ever seen. Those jobs up there are on the line.'
